Quoth the mayor: a two-month synopsis

I’ve been perfectly clear. The city is facing a crisis. We cannot run a deficit. We need these new revenue tools. Everyone understands that. Torontonians understand that. Members of council understand that. Without new revenue tools, there will be cuts to city services. Council has spoken. I respect the will of council. I will now cut services. These cuts are necessary. There will be cuts to police services. No, there will not be cuts to police services. I have been perfectly clear.

There will be cuts to the TTC. The city is facing a crisis. Torontonians understand that. We will consult Torontonians before making any cuts to the TTC. The people of Toronto have spoken. No, there will not be cuts to the TTC. But we still need these new revenue tools. The city’s 130 community centres will be closed Mondays. I’ve listened to the people of Toronto.

I want to hear from the people of Toronto. Visit my Web site and tell me what you think about these necessary new taxes. Yes, I called them taxes. The city’s 130 community centres are now closed Mondays, except we will keep them half-open. These are the consequences of council’s decision. Council can fully reopen the community centres only if it adopts these new taxes right away. I will convene a special meeting of council. The city is facing a crisis. We cannot run a deficit. What kind of city do you want?

I will not convene a special meeting of council. Community centres will remain half-closed until I reopen them, which I will do right now. Torontonians have been perfectly clear. I respect the will of community centres. But we still need these new revenue tools, which are now called taxes. I understand that. The city is facing a deficit. We cannot run a crisis.